Expectations for 2015, second part

This is the second part of the expectations from some of the personalities involved in San Miguel public life of.

Gabriel Arturo Yáñez, Director of Public Security: “There is no better prevention than citizens’ participation.”

This year, said the director, prevention of activities involved citizens’ participation will be strengthened, among them the Neighborhood Watch Program. That department will work strongly in neighborhoods with a detected risk for children and youth because of alcohol and vandalism. Among those neighborhoods are San Luis Rey, Francisco Villa, Olimpo, Providencia and others situated at Ejido de Tirado.

How is the work of prevention going to be done? Director Yáñez commented that a multidisciplinary group will start working at schools, offering talks, conferences, workshops and artistic activities to provide alternatives and solutions to criminal conduct. By attacking the risky behaviors, the department will create a more secure environment for sanmiguelenses.

Yáñez also commented that he expects to hire more police officers to occupy some of the positions still available (40 percent) from the campaign launched in September, when there were 60 posts available. This year the touristic police returned to the historic center with ten officers. Four of them speak English. Yáñez again commented that the index of crime in the city has not grown, and higher indicators now occur because people believe in a culture of denunciation.

Alberto Lenz, Bellas Artes: “We will have a high level theater.”

The director of the Cultural Center El Nigromante said that after being closed for more than two and a half years, the center lost its regional awareness. Now, almost one year after reopening, the efforts will be targeted to reposition the center’s image with support from the INBA (National Institute of Fine Arts).

In February or March, with an investment of more than 30 million pesos, the INBA will start the reconstruction and renovation of the auditorium, which will feature better lighting, sound equipment and chairs. The venue could be inaugurated in June.

The workshops and courses at the Bellas Artes are always targeted to both the foreign and Mexican community, and this year they will feature a painting workshop for children, “a very interesting market,” said Lenz. They will also offer diplomas for consolidated artists.

Gloria Navarrete, coordinator of traditions: “The traditions must be preserved and the local government ought to support them.”

Traditionalist Navarrete commented that the preservation of traditions should be improved this year but always respecting their essence. As an example, she mentioned that Carnival—the weekend before Ash Wednesday, when people break shells on others in the Jardín—should feature a cultural program as it did in the past. It also needs more control and security. She recommends that this year the government should keep supporting the traditions not just morally, but also financially.

Roberto Maxwell “Losing Kids First would be a lamentable loss.”

Dr. Maxwell commented that his group is working now to bring a group of specialists in pediatric surgery for Kids First in May. This will be the eleventh year for the San Miguel organization to performing surgery for Guanajuato’s children. The doctors perform at least 110 surgeries annually, and he expects a rise in the number. The Centro de Crecimiento used to provide post-surgery rehabilitation for sanmiguelense children, and now that it has been taken over by Vamos México, Dr. Maxwell expects to have the same support from them as in the last 10 years. Maxwell thanked all those who have been part of the journey and said that more people should be involved in this noble task because he does not know how long he will be here, but Kids First must stay in San Miguel.